Scunthorpe played some fantastic football throughout the game and put together a terrific defensive display but were unable to find the back of the net against Championship side Sunderland.

Graham Alexander, as expected, stuck with his new-look formation, playing with three centre-backs with Jordan Clarke and Conor Townsend offering the width at full-back.

The match saw Matt Gilks, Rory McArdle, Cameron Burgess and Funso Ojo make their first appearances at Glanford Park.

Rory McArdle was named captain for the friendly, an indication as to Alexander’s plans for next season.

Sunderland started the game well, as winger Joel Asoro always looked dangerous coming down the right.

However, the Black Cats first and only real chance of the first-half came after two minutes, as James Vaughan’s acrobatic effort went wide of Gilks’ post.

Similarly to Asoro looking dangerous on the right wing for Sunderland, Hakeeb Adelakun was in fine form as he found space well playing just being Paddy Madden in a more central position.

After 18 minutes, Scunthorpe had a half-chance as Murray Wallace rose highest from a Josh Morris corner, but his header was high and wide.

Wallace played some fantastic long passes to Jordan Clarke as both full-backs seemed to thrive in their new positions as they were given a license to go forward when Scunthorpe were on the attack.

The Iron looked defensively solid with Ojo and Neal Bishop filling the gaps well when Clarke and Townsend were too far forward.

The Iron’s first real chance of the game came on 32 minutes as Townsend put in a great ball for Paddy Madden, who could only guide the ball over the bar with an outstretched leg.

On the 38th minute, Adelakun drifted in from the right wing and fired a fierce effort from 25-yards out, with the new Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter getting down and parrying away with a strong hand.

A minute before half-time, Madden plucked the ball down from the air and laid it off for Josh Morris, whose right-footed effort just went wide of the post.

The half ended goalless.

The Iron started the second-half as they ended the first, as Adelakun cut inside, shot from 20-yards out as John O’Shea deflected the ball wide.

On the 51th minute, new Sunderland signing Vaughan held the ball up well in the box and found George Honeyman, whose effort from inside the box was tame and well held by Gilks.

Scunthorpe’s best chance of the game came on the 54 minute as new signing Ojo picked up the ball and hit a thunderous effort from 30 yards out which hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced off the line and to safety. It didn’t look like anything was on 30 yards out but he had Ruiter beaten all ends up.

Adelakun continued to cause Sunderland problems as he beat two defenders to find Madden, whose dangerous cross was dealt well with by Ruiter.

The Iron continued to pile the pressure on the Black Cats as Townsend passed to Madden who continued his run into the box and was found by Scunthorpe’s number nine, however Townsend could only send the ball wide across Ruiter from a tight angle.

It took until the 76th minute for Sunderland to create a clear-cut chance as Joel Asoro’s effort from just inside the box was brilliantly saved by the diving Gilks.

Sunderland substitute Tunisian international Whabi Khazri looked dangerous as he skipped past Neal Bishop and fired an effort at goal which was comfortably saved by Scunthorpe’s new number one.

On the 88th minute, Ruiter made an outstanding save to deny Kevin van Veen as his header from close range was denied by the Dutchman’s outstretched hand before Duane Holmes was unable to follow up with the rebound.

Sunderland nearly stole the win in the last minute of the game as Honeyman reacted quickly to strike from close range, however the Scunthorpe stopper got down well to ensure the clean sheet.

With the final kick of the game, Jordan Clarke’s shot across goal was just too far ahead of Jonny Margetts who could not stretch out far enough to tap home.